We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jaliyla Fraser. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jaliyla below.
Jaliyla, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Is your team able to work remotely? If so, how have you made it work? What, if any, have been the pitfalls? What have been the non-obvious benefits?
Yes! My company works on a hybrid model — some of our team members are fully remote while others support school districts in-person as needed. This model wasn’t always the best since it was difficult for some of my staff to shift back to in-person work as school districts were asking for our physical support. I found myself in situations where I was spearheading all roles, from discovering clients, onboarding them, providing the service and supporting them through their next phase of professional learning. That took a huge toll on my mental capacity and I knew I was heading for burnout if I didn’t do something about it.
So four years after starting my company, I took a leap of faith and moved 1600 miles away from my clients and team. I don’t know how well I thought it through, but I knew this was the best thing I could have done for me and the growth of my company. I believed that to truly scale my business and have global impact, I shouldn’t be tied to one location. This decision came with its fair share of risks — selling my condo, leaving behind a secure job, and embracing the unknown in a new time zone.
This move pushed me to sharpen my leadership skills in ways I hadn’t imagined. Being physically distant from my team meant I had to trust and delegate more effectively, forcing me to become a better leader. It also led us to develop more efficient systems and processes that allowed for smoother collaboration across distances. When the pandemic hit, our company was already well-prepared to operate virtually, which helped us secure a significant new client during a time when many were struggling to adapt.
However, the transition to remote work wasn’t without challenges. Finding a balance between work and personal life became more difficult, and at times, the physical distance from the team felt more like a gap in our connection. But overcoming these obstacles by initiating 6-month team events and yearly town hall meetings made us stronger and more adaptable as a company.
In embracing this change, I learned that true growth often comes from stepping out of your comfort zone and daring to do things differently.
Jaliyla, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Of course! My name is Jaliyla Fraser, and I am in the business of protecting students’ education by empowering educators and families with innovative math teaching strategies and resources. As the CEO and Founder of Fraser’s Mathematics Solutions (FMS), our mission is to enrich the mathematics educational landscape through comprehensive professional development, create and align math curricula for school districts, and design culturally relevant math and STEAM programs for students. Additionally, we are proud of our Dope Math Notebook, an innovative educational tool designed to enhance the learning experience for students.
My academic journey, while marked by the distinction of being valedictorian from elementary through high school, took an unexpected turn during my college years. Despite these early successes, I encountered significant challenges in college math classes, resulting in the loss of academic scholarships and a necessary transfer to another institution. This period of adversity was compounded by the isolation I felt as the only Black woman in my math classes, along with discouraging experiences that undermined my confidence in my abilities.
These challenges, however, inspired me to begin a journey to prevent similar experiences for others. I dedicated myself to becoming the exceptional math educator I wished I had. My academic pursuits led me to earn a B.S. in Secondary Math Education from Temple University, an M.A. in Math Education from Columbia University, and a certificate to teach high school physics. My commitment to ensuring no student would feel unsupported in their mathematical journey became a guiding principle of my career.
My professional background spans a wide range of roles, including high school math and physics teacher, K-12 district Math Supervisor, math professor, math textbook editor, computer science advisory board member, and mathematics advisor, among others. These experiences have equipped me with a unique perspective and the expertise necessary to lead Fraser’s Mathematics Solutions.
My company is dedicated to addressing and overcoming the barriers to student success in mathematics by offering comprehensive support to all stakeholders in a student’s educational journey—math teachers, parents, administrators, math coaches, substitutes, and, most importantly, the students themselves. What distinguishes FMS from other educational consulting firms is our holistic approach to mathematics education. We recognize that a student’s success is influenced by a complex ecosystem that includes various stakeholders. Our FMS Math Institutes are specifically designed to cater to the unique needs of each group within this ecosystem. Furthermore, our Dope Math Culture initiative represents a much needed step towards fostering a positive mathematical environment in schools, highlighted by our Dope Math Notebooks, engaging math assemblies, and inspiring Women in STEM Panels.
At Fraser’s Mathematics Solutions, we are committed to redefining professional development and educational resources with a focus on empowerment, inclusivity, and excellence. Our vision is clear: to dismantle the barriers to success in mathematics education and to cultivate a generation of confident, capable learners. We look forward to continuing our journey of innovation and impact in the educational landscape.
Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?
Yes I do, and let me tell you it’s happened a number of times! Bootstrapping my company, while admirable to some, is an experience like no other. Managing a business that primarily collaborates with school districts introduces a unique set of cash flow challenges, primarily due to the delay in payment processing. Payments for services rendered are contingent upon the scheduling of board meetings, typically held monthly, leading to a net 30-60 day payment term. This delay can extend further if an invoice fails to be included in the bill list for an upcoming board meeting, necessitating an additional month’s wait for the next meeting, followed by the time required for check issuance and clearance.
There was a time when I ended up borrowing $3,000 from a friend just to make payroll. Another time, my anxiety levels went through the roof when a district was over 90 days late on a $45K payment, which necessitated a difficult conversation with my team regarding the delay in compensation. And then there was the time I thought I had really messed up because I needed to place a large order of Dope Math Notebooks but didn’t have the $10K full payment that the supplier required. These kinds of challenges forced me to get smarter and more efficient in how I run operations and manage my team. Key improvements included automating accounts receivable processes and revising contract terms for our 1099 contractors.
We now proactively gather essential information from new clients, such as their billing cycle cut-off dates, board meeting schedules, and payment processes. For every invoice we send out, we make sure to get confirmation that it’s been received and then inquire about when it will be scheduled to be approved. If we don’t hear back, we follow up by email and phone until we get a response. At first, I was worried this might annoy the folks in the school district offices, but then I realized it’s way better than not being able to pay my team on time.
Efforts to minimize payment delays also led to modifications in our contractual agreements, ensuring that all 1099 contractors associated with workshops are compensated within 30-45 days, while maintaining a bi-weekly payroll schedule for employees. The introduction of these changes, communicated transparently to our staff, did not result in any loss of team members, affirming their commitment to our mission.
It took four years to refine these processes, which now operate efficiently with minimal intervention required, except in cases of unresponsiveness or oversight by a school district. These adjustments have better stabilized our financial operations and reinforced the importance of adaptability and proactive management in navigating the challenges of business.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Honestly, sometimes I don’t even know how to define resilience outside of taking it day by day. In the world of entrepreneurship, every day is different and some days the blow is so hard you start questioning if you are even capable of leading a company. But then knowing that you are steering a company with dreams of a global presence, resilience and grit are not just fancy words—they’re my daily bread. Every single day is a test of my ability to make snap decisions, care deeply for my team’s wellbeing, manage my mental health, scout for capital, and navigate the tricky waters of hiring and letting go. And let’s not even start on the pressure to keep your offerings high-quality and your profit margins healthy. This journey demands a constant state of alertness, action, patience, and belief.
A time that really put my resilience to the test was after I painstakingly selected a new Manager of Curriculum and Training (MCT) after a thorough vetting process. It wasn’t just about filling a position; it was about finding the right fit—someone who would carry forward our vision with the same passion and dedication. After investing a significant amount of time and resources in training and fully empowering them to take charge, I was blindsided by their sudden departure to another opportunity. The irony? I found out while the individual and I attended a major industry conference fully funded by my company. On the second day of this event, I was stunned to learn through an email from the new employer requesting a reference, that the MCT had accepted a position elsewhere, despite only being two months into their role with us.
This abrupt exit not only left a gaping hole in our operations but also threw our strategic plans, especially around the Black Friday sales period, into disarray. Our marketing strategy took a hit, leading to minimal sales in our direct-to-consumer revenue. For the next four months, I assumed the dual roles of CEO and MCT, amongst other things, which significantly impacted our operations. It delayed the planned expansion of our sales department, resulting in loss of revenue over two quarters due to our inability to onboard new clients while ensuring service continuity for existing ones. It was a stark reminder of how interconnected and fragile our operations were, and how being reactive rather than proactive had put us at a disadvantage.
This situation, while difficult, provided valuable insights. It highlighted the need for a more robust foundation within the curriculum department and revealed that several key initiatives had not been implemented or were below the expected standard of quality. This realization led to a thorough restructuring of the department, where I systematized processes, streamlined our scripts, and improved our resource pool, setting a stronger operational framework for the future.
I also realized we needed to overhaul our approach to prevent such disruptions in the future. I secured a mentor for our HR generalist and established clear objectives, including the development of a comprehensive hiring strategy. This strategy aimed to ensure that our talent pipeline was robust and that we were always prepared with potential candidates for key positions. Additionally, we intensified our efforts to leverage social media and job boards more effectively for recruitment, optimizing our online job application process. These measures not only addressed immediate staffing concerns but also marked a strategic pivot towards a more proactive and resilient organizational culture, setting the stage for sustainable growth and stability. The outcome of these efforts was the successful recruitment, from within the company, of a highly capable new MCT, marking a significant turnaround in the leadership and direction of the department.
In running a business, especially as a Black woman at the helm of a thriving enterprise, these challenges are par for the course. Yet, it’s through these trials that we learn, adapt, and emerge stronger, ready to lead our companies into the future with confidence and unwavering determination. I wish you all well on your journey in entrepreneurship!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.frasersmath.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/f_m_solutions/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frasersfractions
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frasers-mathematics-solutions/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/f_m_solutions?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3n1_pn8xgXyLhTKJee-PiA
- Other: Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@f_m_solutions
Image Credits
Stephen McFadden Ahmed – Sweenshots